Reviewed November 2, 2026
Measure movement across a cycle
Record incoming pallets, pallets dispatched with goods, empty returns, repairs, disposals and the ending count over a representative operating period. A photograph of today’s stack does not show the recurring flow or the seasonal peak.
Keep unlike stock in separate columns
Track footprint, construction, ownership, visible condition and storage location. Record units that cannot be assessed rather than forcing them into a usable category. That separation helps distinguish a supply problem from a recovery or handling problem.
Turn the audit into a service trigger
Document who checks the count, the staging limit, appointment constraints and the contact for exceptions. Share normal and peak volumes when requesting a recurring program. A measured trigger is more useful than an unsupported fixed collection promise.
Keep these questions together
- Count flows, not snapshots
- Track damage causes
- Define service triggers
Primary reference: EPA materials management hierarchy. This guide prepares a planning conversation and does not certify packaging or guarantee service availability.